The price of a moment, the significance of memories, the roads we tread on under the sole azure sky, and the value of life itself.
These mere things, once we do something to it-- will subject us to change, to meet a beautiful soul, and to love, unti...
I adjusted the piano chair before taking a seat. I inspected the piano, and was fascinated how it's left untouched since a thin film of dust was covering the keys. No one must've tried to play it.
The spectators were holding their breaths.
I eyed Sendoh and his parents.
They loved every inch of him, and I stood in awe of his beauty.
I was still thinking of what piece to play.
Sendoh was still staring, and when our eyes met, I gave him a wink.
He gave me a smile, one too happy that his eyes turned into crescents.
Alright, I'll play Beethoven. Moonlight Sonata, 3rd movement.
🍋
Sendoh's POV
I haven't heard of this piece before. The piece that Ayane played had rapid tempo and restless energy.
Pianists are really amazing, arent they? Just by simply tickling the keys of an instrument they can enchant everyone in a room.
I love watching Ayane when she plays.
Midway through Ayane's playing, I noticed someone, a teen as tall as me, who was intently staring at her.
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One of his ears was pierced, and the silver stud glints whenever a light hits it. He has curly sandy blonde hair.
Something just arose within me. The way he stares, the way he's just staring there... as if claiming her.
Hey... hey...this guy is staring too much at my girlfriend!!
I might've been staring to much, or, glaring, since my dad nudged me.
"You should stare at Ayane, son. Not at some stranger. You're missing the show."
He laughed and I sighed.
When the stranger boy heard my dad, he craned his head, as if to see where the laughter was coming from.
His eyes came into view: it was golden amber, a striking resemblance to his hair. His eyes perfectly complements it. (I can't believe I just said that).
"Ayane...."
Is what I heard he said next.
" Ayane, huh."
He repeated, and the way he spoke of Ayane's name was like him trying to resonate with it.
Something's.... really off with this guy.
Upon ending her piece, this stranger was one of the first few people who applauded Ayane.
Ayane inhaled first with eyes shut, before standing up to take a bow. She panned her eyes across the whole lobby and all that she could see are camera flashes and people cheering. She smiled again, then walked to my direction.
I lost the stranger in the sea of people. They dispersed a few minutes after Ayane's performance.
"Thank you for gracing us with that piece, dear." Mom was like.
"Oh, don't mention it, Kasumi-san. I find it great to be able to play a piece, it's like practicing." Ayane replied.
"Oh, are you entering a competition or some kind?" Dad entered the convo.
"Er... yes, just a couple of weeks after New Year's."
I returned Ayane's clutch and she thanked me in the form of a hand squeeze.
"Speaking of New Year's, darling, how will you celebrate it?" My mom asked, curiouser and curiouser by the second.
"I might just stay at home, celebrate it with my parents."
Then, my mom clapped both of ther hands together.
"Dear! Whenever you want to come to Tokyo, you can stay at our place, okay? You can take a train ride from here to get there or better yet, we can have Akira fetch you!"
Hearing that sparked giddiness in me, and upon hearing what mom said, Ayane stammered,
"Wha--N-no, it's okay, you shouldn't bother Akira to drive me to Tokyo, it's okay, I'll-- I'll just commute!!"
"Ayane!!" I said, excitedly,
"Hm?"
"When you visit us in Tokyo, you'll finally see Mochi!!"
She was trying to remember who it was, and upon realizing, her eyes sparkled:
"Mochi?! Your Akita dog Mochi?!"
"Uh-hmm!" I replied with the same energy as her.
🍋
Sendoh's POV
Ayane and I bade goodbye to my parents. They said they'll be the first one to go home to Tokyo since tomorrow's gonna be New Year's Eve.
On the drive to Ayane's home I found her fiddling with her ring. It became one of her few new mannerisms that I noticed.
She propped her chin on her hand while she watched the things we passed by. We didn't speak for the rest of the ride but my hand was on her thigh. When we're almost at her house I decided to say something.
"Say, Ayane. If you ever feel like you want to visit Tokyo before your competition and before school starts just tell me, okay?"
"Okay."
After one turn we finally arrived in front of Ayane's house. Ayane got out of the car and she waited for me.
"So... you'd be going to Tokyo tonight?" She asked.
I glanced at my wristwatch to check the time, estimating how many minutes it would take me to get there.
"Yeah, Ayane. Pretty much."
Then, all of a sudden, she hugged me.
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She didn't say a word so I just let her hug me until nothing could fit in the space between us.
I totally understood what she wanted to say from this hug. I gave her a chuckle before stroking her head.
